Government cannot properly maintain the plants – residents

Despite a thorough presentation on the safety and mitigating protocols associated with the government’s asphalt and concrete batching plants, residents of West Kingstown on Sunday rejected the proposal to have the plants re-located to Gibson Corner.

“We have not started construction, all we did was clear the area…we are doing this for national development and if we do not set the asphalt plants here, if you say no, I walk away, I not fighting with you,” Minister of Transport and Works,, Julian Francis told a gathering of residents at the proposed site on Sunday to shouts of “no”.

Minister of Transport and Works,, Julian Francis told the gathering of residents at the proposed site, “if you say no, I walk away, I not fighting with you.”

Francis was speaking prior to presentations from engineer Brian George (who has done an environmental and social impact assessment); Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roads Buildings and General Services Authority-BRAGSA- Kem Bartholomew, and Parliamentary Representative for West Kingstown, Daniel Cummings.

While some residents seemed convinced by the presentations that the plants can be run without problems, the majority of those who attended the meeting were of the opinion that the government cannot properly maintain the plants and run them problem free.

One resident, Obed Williams, said he would be more convinced of a proper operation if these plants were managed by a private sector entity. He noted that he observed certain things happening at the site in Argyle where the plants are currently located, and he would not like to see the same thing at Gibson Corner.

Resident, engineer Ken Cozier asked about the noise associated with the plants and the prevention of spillage of waste material into the environment adding that a lot of persons use the nearby river and he would hate to see it polluted.

Another resident, Sylvia Sutherland, pointed out that the proposed site is at the top of a valley.

“I live in this area all my life and I know the winds are very strong and come out of the area. Winds bring dust from as far as Africa and the dust that can come from these plants can blow out of here,” Sutherland.

She added that persons inhaling cement particles over long periods usually have health issues and carcinogens from an asphalt plant are deadly.

“You can’t control toxic chemicals in the air. Nobody wants to actively breathe in toxic carcinogens and chemical all year round. Workers can put on temporary protection but when you live here you can’t do that. How do you mitigate those things?” Sutherland questioned.

In his presentation, George noted that the concerns make sense but there are mitigating factors attached to all.

He said waste material can be easily contained, and while the biggest concern is the gaseous emissions of nitrogen oxide, Sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, if an asphalt plant is operated properly, the emissions should be minimal.

Another section of the residents of West Kingstown on Sunday listening to the proposal to have the asphalt and concrete batching plants re-located to Gibson Corner area.

“We have experiences of a first-rate operation named VINLEC that operates in an area where people live and next to a river, and they have over time developed a first-rate operation,” said George.

He added that the concern resides with the question of if the public is satisfied with the level of operation and, “we have shown nationally that we can do it, VINLEC does it every day.”

George also noted that many fail-safe and preventative measures can be placed to alleviate threats, but that does not mean the threats do not exist.

“I do believe that the concrete plant can operate without nobody knowing,” said George.

He further noted that an Environmental Monitoring Plan should suggest the frequency with which several things should be looked at, but, unlike in many parts of the world, in SVG these things are not independently done and the task must be taken up by entities like the Ministry of Health.

“It is within that context that if the meticulous monitoring is done, it can be safe,” said George while adding that these plants are zero tolerance operations and should have all the preventative measures in place.

George said he has seen asphalt and concrete batching plants operate at Ottley Hall and Argyle and you can drive past and not know the plants are there.

“So, it can be done, but the issue has to be what assurances the operators are going to give”.

He said the issues have to be controlled at the source.

George noted that in the recommended operations of these plants they need to be a half mile away from activity on flat terrain, but at Gibson Corner, this is not the case as residents are located about a mile away.

In response, Cummings said he, like the residents, has qualms about the government’s ability to effectively monitor the operations of the plant.

Engineer Brian George (left) in conversation with Parliamentary Representative for West Kingstown, Daniel Cummings

He said that while he knows national development requires sacrifice and he is pleased by the approach with the Environmental Impact Assessment, there are several critical caveats to any development and George has indicated that the real terror is the asphalt plant.

“Not to say there are not problems with the cement plant, but it is harder to control the asphalt plant and the fumes are nothing to joke with,” Cummings stressed.

“What is bothering me in the context of the way things are done, to tell me that the Ministry of Health is responsible for monitoring what goes on here is telling me go to hell, ” Cummings noted while pointing out that he could smell a nearby pig pen that should not be there.

“If the Ministry of Health can’t handle that, you telling me they can handle this? Cummings said to laughter.

He however said that he is aware of the importance of concrete and aggregate to national development but he would prefer if the plant were to be operated by the private sector.

“I would have a better feeling …because the government can mandate that they put mechanisms and stiff penalties and heavy insurance.

“Government is government …you can’t fight government,” said Cummings.